What the Critics Say

"Catching Fire not only lived up to my high expectations, it surpassed them. It's just as exciting as The Hunger Games, but even more gut wrenching, because you already know these characters, you've already suffered with them." (Stephenie Meyer)

"...enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment." (School Library Journal, starred review)

Katniss and Peeta return triumphantly to District 12. After 6 months, they embark on a tour around the other districts as dissent and tensions rise. An outraged President Snow concocts a special treat for the 75th Hunger Games.

This book is slow to start with the "couple" touring on the train and adjusting to living in their victors' houses in a separate village while the townspeople continue to exist in squalor. The love triangle grows more complicated with Gale now back in the picture. Mid-way through, the story gains speed with an interesting twist and never stops. Couldn't download the third quickly enough.

My only complaint is how old the narrator sounds. I grew accustomed to it in the first book and it doesn't detract too much from the fantastic story.

After the Hunger Games which was a one of a kind work, both sequels Catching Fire and MockingJay are interesting reads but fall short of the thrilling, imaginative caliber of Hunger Games. They would be more enjoyable if one did not compare them to Hunger Games.

I loved this book and I will talk about content, but first I must give praise to the audio itself. I often read the books before I listen to them, so I don't expect to be so spellbound by the audio. However, with this book, the narrator (Carolyn McCormick) is great and helps to engage me even more than when I read it myself. I had listened to the first book "The Hunger Games" before reading the second, it had the same narrator, and I could hear here voice in my head as I read. I made a point of listening to both back to back and it was pure pleasure. In "Catching Fire", I found myself laughing and crying with the book. The narrator is consistent and spot on with her inflections and voicing.

Now for content, I had been anticipating this second book in the trilogy since the moment I finished the first. It continues just a short time after the first and covers all that has happened in between and then continues on with the story Suzanne Collins so expertly weaved. The book is perfectly title as it descibes exactly how the temperment of the Districts has developed. I don't want to spoil it for people with too much. The love triangle between the Katniss, Peeta and Gale is further fleshed out, but, of course, is not resolved. The author does a wonderful job of this, and I, myself, can't even decide who is the one to choose, I can't take sides.

I don't know how helpful this review will be, but I cannot praise this book enough. It left me more than eager for the final book and I am sure that I will need to read it again in the mean time.

One thing I must say between books 1 and books 2 of the Hunger Games books is how seamless they seem to flow into each other. As most would agree, the first Hunger Games was excellently put together so a continuation was very much welcomed.

The narrator grew on me, she did a very good job voicing the different characters that are introduced (which were quite a few). She did very well to show the tortured nature of the characters in this book.

Catching Fire introduces a lot of very interesting new characters I must say. The tyranny of the Capital and of Snow becomes even more evident in the title. The story progresses very quickly I find and certain aspects of the book seems a bit rushed if you ask me, however much was not lost in this title and it was very much enjoyed.

I can't really add much to the reviews of the story that have been previously written here. It is suspenseful, interesting, and made two days of a road trip much more interesting. I look forward to the third book, except I won't be listening to it from Audible. The narration here, by Carolyn McCormick, was simply dreadful. Katniss is alternately a world-weary 50-year-old, and a whiny 10-year-old - and not as a point of character fluctuation but of wildly shifting narration. At points in the story where Katniss might be serious, she is simpering; sarcasm comes across as self-doubt. It's amazing what a voice can or cannot do for a character. Other characters also did not fare well; McCormick seemed to have not read the "stage directions," so a solemn remark sometimes came out as a shout. By the end, I was gritting my teeth in frustration and sometimes outright laughing at the terrible, erratic vocalization.

The story is quite interesting, though, and I will look for it in another form elsewhere.

I will try not to give anything away and simply say that I'm not as enthralled with this one. I cannot believe in the story, in the decisions of the characters, in the logical progression - I expected more sooner, or if not more, than an explanation of why the characters would choose the way that they did, especially the main character and the rest of the tributes.

I read the first book in this series and couldn't put it down. I decided to listen to the second one so I could get back to having a life instead of reading non stop. I had a very hard time getting past the narrator. She's a good reader. She would be fine reading a different book but she does not fit this character at all. I don't understand why in the world they selected her for this series. It's incredibly distracting and takes a great deal away from the story. I would give this book four stars if the narrator was different.

Well, she did it. The author made the 2nd as good as the first.
It is quite an emotional ride, the characters are even more engaging than they were in the first book.
There are some developments to the story that you expect after reading the first, but there are also some great surprises.
Being that it is told in first person, it was very important to keep the same narrator and I am glad they did.
- AND you should be warned.
If you are in it for this one than you are *definitely* in it for the next!
(I hate waiting for the next in a good sequel, Ms Collins, please hurry...)

I enjoyed reading this series, so did my 14 year old daughter, so thought we would get the audio books to listen to. Sadly, the narrator just doesn't do it justice. She sounds like a robot, and sounds FAR too old to believably convey the characters of Katnis & co - she makes Katnis sound like a 40 something stepford wife!

I still recommend the recording for those who can't/won't read the books. My daughter enjoyed listening but would laugh out loud now and then at the dreadful narration. Listen to the sample - if you can handle it, go for it!

If you liked the first book, "The Hunger Games," you will like the sequel. It keeps up the gut-wrenching tension despite its predictability, just like the first book. Although most of the new characters introduced are not as engaging as those we met in book one, you will grow to like some of the returning characters even more.

Katniss continues to be a bit slow to figure out things that will be immediately obvious to the reader, and the ending is easy to see coming. However, it's hardly an ending at all; the last sentence may as well have been "To be continued..."

I still think Carolyn McCormick's narration is a bit too chipper at times, and Katniss in particular sounds entirely too breathlessly girlish when she's fighting for her life.

First of all, let me just say that I love the narrator Carolyn McCormick. She's doing a great job and I love her voice, tone and rhythm for the Hunger games series! This first part of the second book was not as action packed as the first Hunger Games, but it was not in the least uninteresting. I wanted to keep listening until it was done! I am also very excited about the second part of the recording which promises all the action to come. I think this book was really enjoyable - would recommend it.

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Renee

Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom

4/9/12

Overall

"Fantastic series"

I'm really enjoying these audio-books. They are wonderfully read, and very well written. I think Suzanne Collins did a great job with the characters, especially Katniss. And just when I think I know how the story is going to go, she goes in a completely different direction.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Kelly

Paulton, United Kingdom

7/19/12

Overall

"A gripping listen"

So, I already own the paperback and have recently purchased The Hunger Games on audiobook, so the next step would be to acquire this one, the second in the trilogy. A great Narrator makes this a much more enjoyable listen than some I've come across. We have listened to it a few times now and think it will become a great addition to our audio library.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

SDY

Australia

4/26/12

Overall

"It gets interesting..."

This books needs no introduction. You can't not read it if you've read the Hunger Games. My comment is specific to the audible version: Carolyn McCormick does a fine job with the reading. Her voice adapts well to all the different characters so it's always pretty clear who's talking. The slightly husky tone to her voice adds an edge to the prose, and definitely makes you feel that you're listening to more than a kids' book. A pleasure to listen to.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Andre

Stavanger, Norway

12/1/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"A thoroughly gripping book"

Would you listen to Catching Fire: Hunger Games Trilogy, Book 2 again? Why?

I would surely listen to Catching Fire again. the story is fast-paced, the characters are well developed, the language is beautiful and the symbolism in the story is impossible not to get inspired by.

What did you like best about this story?

The mere thought of drawing a parallell between the symbolism in this book and the rampant development of entertainment in the modern world is gripping.

Have you listened to any of Carolyn McCormick’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, I have not.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The story itself makes my heart race. The overall theme of the book is a mix of inspiring and depressing (in a good way!)

Any additional comments?

Nope, I'm good.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Jennifer

Buckinghamshire, UK

9/2/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not as good as the first book"

The first book is so gripping that I can't imagine not reading this second installment, but, although decent, it wasn't anywhere near as good as the first book. Katniss lacks the cleverness that got her through the first games and the plot contains too much same old same old to make it special.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

jennifer

alfreton, United Kingdom

8/25/12

Overall

"Catching Fire"

This was as good as the Hunger Games,but i never exspected the ending like it was cannot wait to listen to the final book.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Claire

Yate, United Kingdom

7/21/12

Overall

"Bit of bridge to the fantastic 3rd book"

As I've found with most trilogies the 2nd book tends to be a bit of a bridge betwen the excitement of the first book and the climax and thrill of the 3rd book. This one is a bit of a scene/background setter ready for the 3rd book, but is still unput-downable and is completely believable for a future American world

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Christopher

Telford, United Kingdom

3/28/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Predictable - but still very entertaining"

As equally enjoyable as the first

Story – 3.5/5

Once again I found this story very entertaining, and I couldn’t switch it off. The only reason for not giving a very high score is down to a few issues that didn’t detract from my own enjoyment, but may do for others.

Catching Fire has followed on very nicely from the first book. It flows smoothly from the end of the first novel and the plot is equally, if not even more, intriguing than the first book.

I found the story to be incredibly predictable throughout. I am not sure if the small hints to how the book was going to end were supposed to be as obvious as I found them, but the ending didn’t have quite the impact that it could have had for me.

Once again, it is the little details that make this trilogy enjoyable. The known characters are developed further quite nicely with a few more intriguing characters entering into the mix. Whenever little snippets of history were told about these characters history, I was always left wanting more.

As with the first book, I didn’t find the love elements of the story very convincing, and there is more of it in this book if it bugged you in the first. I personally still didn’t find it putting me off.

Performance – 4/5

Carolyn McCormick is an excellent voice actor and narrator. If you enjoyed her in the first, you will enjoy her in this. All characters had distinctly recognisable voices, and she was able to portray the emotions of them very well throughout.

There were still the same issues of younger characters seeming too whiney at times by over elongating and over emphasising some words, but again, this may be a fault of the writing, and not the narrator.

Overall – 3.5/5

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

mrs

chessington, United Kingdom

2/23/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Not the best"

Would you try another book written by Suzanne Collins or narrated by Carolyn McCormick?

I've listened to the first book and was enthralled.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

It was a little too recap heavy for me. It was also repetitive and this lost some of my interest. It seemed like a bridge to the final book. I also lost some of my support for Katniss she seems to be very self absorbed in this book.

Did Carolyn McCormick do a good job differentiating each of the characters? How?

I was not fond of the Katniss' voice, it sounded a little weak and whiny, which I'm sure was not the intention for the heroine of the story.

Was Catching Fire: Hunger Games Trilogy, Book 2 worth the listening time?

Yes it was worth the listening time.

Any additional comments?

I afraid I'm not going to listen to the third book in the trilogy but I'm sure it will tie up lots of lose ends. I just fear it will be another chance to revisit the old plot and stories.

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